We wait until the first handicap on the card to start our betting. The 13:45 is as middling as you'd expect a fairly low-grade staying chase to be and that's just why Kastani Beach stands out. A winning pointer, he quickly improved for Seamus Mullins last season and has quickly worked back to form this time around, finishing third in a novice handicap at Lingfield on his chasing debut last month. This is a less-competitive race, while Kastani Beach ought to be better suited by this longer trip, so he appears to have plenty in his favour as he looks to break his maiden.
We're again looking to relatively-unexposed sorts for our second bet. In the staying handicap hurdle at 14:20, Night of Passion stands out as one that could improve and blow the rest from the water. Her form to now has been just poor, but the impression left has been more promising. On her last two handicap starts in particular, Night of Passion has finished within hailing distance despite seeming to find the trip to be on the sharp side. She now finds herself at a very different track to Exeter or Towcester but, crucially, this contest is over an extended 25 furlongs. It's this additional emphasis on stamina that is expected to draw improvement from Night of Passion: in this company, she needn't find a lot to win.
We're in the last race (15:30) looking for out last bet, which is on a horse that is probably on his last chance. Tom Sang has often hinted at the sort of ability that will make a mockery of his current lowly BHA mark of 79, yet weak finishes have left that promised as yet unfulfilled. Nonetheless, he had an excuse for dropping away last time on his return from nearly six months off yet run one of his better races on bare form. Now, with that run behind him, the emphasis firmly on speed and his continuing in good form, Tom Sang has few excuses and if he can't win today, it's difficult to see when he ever will.
Timeform UK SmartPlays
All at Plumpton
Back Kastani Beach @ 5.04/1 in the 13:45
Back Night of Passion @ 3.5551/20 in the 14:20
Back Tom Sang @ 5.49/2 in the 15:30
